NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Another American tourist has mysteriously died while on vacation in the Dominican Republic.

The latest victim in the popular tourist destination – a New York City mother. That’s now a half dozen deaths in the past year.

CBS2’s Alice Gainer spoke to the woman’s son, who is desperately searching for answers amid his grief.

Leyla Cox of Staten Island was on a solo birthday trip to the Dominican when she passed away this past Monday.

Leyla Cox was just 53 when she died in the Dominican Republic. (Credit: Will Cox)

“I didn’t realize how much of an impact she made in New York until she passed away and that just shows how much of a bright light she was and now it’s forever extinguished in this world,” her son, Will Cox said.

The 53-year-old’s only son got the news when the U.S. embassy in the D.R. called him to tell him she died of a heart attack.

“I do not believe it was of natural causes. I truly believe if she was anywhere else in the world besides the Dominican Republic she’d be alive right now and we wouldn’t be having this conversation,” the grieving 25-year-old declared.

Will Cox with his late mother before her fateful trip to the now-infamous Caribbean country. (Credit: Will Cox)

Cox joins a growing list of Americans who have passed away while in the Caribbean country over the last year.